1. Harmonic Video Timing
(HVT)
By Mark Stockfisch
Quantum Data

2. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 2
“Will / should IT and CE industry
standards converge?”
Ian Miller, Samsung Electronics America
The answer is:
…they already have at your video signal
generator company.

3. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 3
Wrenching change at Quantum
Data over the last three years.
• Integration of digital video and CE timings.
• Integration of OpenLDI, DVI, and HDMI
interfaces.
• Switching emphasis away from IT-only to
integrated IT-CE test equipment.
• A majority of our customers are in the CE
or ProAV markets.
• Many of our former IT customers now
make CE equipment as well.

4. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 4
Has prompted areas of research…
• Naming conventions
• DVI interoperability & compliance testing
methods
• Timing Format Integration (HVT)

5. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 5
What is HVT?
HVT is an alternative method for timing design that:
• Integrates IT and CE timings.
• Reduces frame rate error to zero.
• Optionally, supports a scheme for reducing jitter
in digital video systems, whereby all the pixel
clock frequencies can be generated from a very
quiet single fixed-frequency master clock
source followed by a programmable divider.
• Maintains audio coherence, by insuring that a
well-behaved rational ( N / M ) relationship exists
between video and audio clocks at all times.

6. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 6
CVT vs. HVT
An Example
Method Name H
Res
Pixels
V
Res
Lines
Frame
Rate
Hz
Aspect
Ratio
H
Total
Pixels
V
Total
Lines
Pixel
Rate
MHz
CVT 0.98M9 1280 768 49.927 10:9
“9”
1648 793 65.250
HVT
“HVT”
HVT1250E 1280
“12”
768 50.000
“50”
5:3
“E”
1650 800 66.000

7. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 7
CVT vs. HVT (continued)
Is the timing audio friendly when the frame
rate is locked?
Method Pixel
Rate
MHz
Frame Rate
Correction
Factor
32kHz
Synth
Factors
44.1kHz
Synth
Factors
48kHz
Synth
Factors
CVT 65.250 163358/
163125
40/
81679
60/
81679
441/
653432
HVT 66.000 1 2/
4125
1/
1375
147/
220000

8. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 8
Other Considerations
• What if VTOT is a prime number?

9. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 9
Timing Standards
• History
– VESA Discrete Monitor Timings (DMT)
– VESA Generalized Timing Format (GTF)
• Today
– VESA Coordinated Video Timings (CVT)
• Possible Future
– Harmonic Video Timing (HVT)

10. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 10
The Basis for Legacy Timings
• Narrow-scope computer industry needs
• Image fidelity
• Old display technologies
– CRT retrace-based blanking requirements
– Signal-based format detection (e.g polarity)
• Old host technologies
– Character-resolution timing counters
– Noisy wideband PLL clock synthesizers

11. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 11
Legacy Pixel Clock Generator
Fref
(fixed)
÷M
÷N
VCO
0.25MHz
Fpixel = N*(Fref/M) = 0.25MHz*N
(i.e. hundreds of arbitrary pixel rates)
Fpixel

12. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 12
Wide Range == Noisy Clock
82.5MHz 165MHz
F
More Noise

13. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 13
Narrow-range == Quiet Clock
2.97GHz
2.97GHz/1.001
F
Less Noise

14. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 14
A New Basis for Future Timings
• Wide-scope (IT, CE, ProAV, et al)
requirements
• Video/Audio/Data Integration & Integrity
• New Display Technologies
– Audio/Data based blanking requirements
– Data channel based system/format discovery
• New Host Technologies
– Pixel & sub-pixel resolution timing counters
– Quiet telecom-like fixed rate master clocks

15. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 15
New Pixel Clock Generator
÷M
÷L
Fmaster
(~fixed)
2.97GHz
Faudio = Fpixel * ( N / M )
Fpixel = 2.97GHz / L ÷N
VCO Faudio
Fpixel
44 pixel rates

16. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 16
HVT modifications to CVT

17. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 17
Issue CVT HVT
Frame Rates (Hz)
50, 60, 75, & 85
±0.65 max
Exactly 24, 25, 30
48, 50, 60, 75, or 90
Pixel Rate
Noisy wideband PLL
w/0.25MHz steps
Quiet fixed-rate PLL
w/divide-by-N
Htotal / Vtotal
Framework
On-the-fly
calculation
Pre-calculated
look-up table-based
CRT blanking GTF defaults
uses GTF defaults
only as target
Reduced blanking
Fixed
160 pixels
Minimal, but variable
Audio/Data friendly
Horizontal
Granularity
8-pixels single pixel

18. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 18
Issue CVT HVT
Apertures
4:3, 16:9, & 16:10
(discourage 5:3 &
5:4)
12 landscape/portrait
pairs
Content Mapping Not Addressed
Letterbox, Scope, &
Safe-Title
Genlock
Machine timing
remains fixed
Machine timing
remains fixed
Analog Video
Clock Recovery
Depends on CVT
calculated timing
Depends on HVT
best-fit timing
Minimum digital
clock rate
25MHz 24.75MHz
Sync Polarity
HS-/VS+ CRT
HS+/VS- reduced
Don’t care

19. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 19
Issue CVT HVT
V Sync Width
Communicates
aspect ratio
Don’t care
H Sync Width 8% of H-total Don’t care
V Sync Position Vertical centering
Analog centering
Digital field ID
Naming
Borrowed from
digital
photography
Three name spaces:
1. IT
2. CE composite
3. CE / ProAV
component

20. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 20
IT Timing Name Example
HVT1060H
Horizontal Resolution
Aspect Ratio
Frame RateCompany or Standard Initials

21. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 21
CE / ProAV Component Video
Timing Name Example
240p4x59SH_28
Multi-clocking (e.g. 4-clock/pixel)
Content Fitting Method
(e.g. scope)
Frame Rate
(60/1.001)
Vertical Resolution
Content Aspect Ratio
(e.g. 16:9)
Modifications
(VTOT &
replicate)
Scan Method

22. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 22
Composite Video
Timing Name Example
NTSC-JLH
Content Fitting Method
(e.g. letterbox)
Japanese (no setup)
Composite Video Standard
Content Aspect Ratio
(e.g. 16:9)

23. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 23
10-steps to HVT
1. Choose prime-based master clock frequency.
2. Create sorted (descending) list of all prime-divided rates.
3. Extract pixel rates from top of list.
4. Select frame rates from bottom of list (excluding many).
5. For each pixel rate and frame rate combination, find all
HTOT*VTOT frameworks that fit and sort by frame rate.
6. Establish list of supported aspect ratios, orientations, and
content mappings.
7. Establish list of supported horizontal resolutions.
8. Establish criteria for placing active into total (e.g. GTF).
9. For each aspect ratio, horizontal resolution, and frame
rate combination, try placing content into every
framework (one-at-a-time) and select the best fit based on
optimum placement criteria of step 8.
10. Sort, encode, store results in a look-up-table, and apply.

24. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 24
HVT Master Clock
Borrow a concept from the television
industry - use a master clock frequency
that is the product of powers of a handful
of small prime numbers, for example:
Fmaster = 27 * 33 * 57 * 111 = 2.97GHz

25. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 25
HVT Divider
Obtain candidate frequencies by dividing
the master clock frequency by a variable
integer divisor that is the product of
powers of the master clock primes, as
follows:
Fpixel = 2.97MHz / ( 2a * 3b * 5c * 11d )

26. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 26
HVT Divide Cases
• For example, by varying a, b, c, and d powers, a
list of 512 candidate frequencies are obtained at
2.97GHz (i.e. 8 * 4 * 8 * 2 = 512 frequencies):
FOR a=0 to 7
FOR b=0 to 3
FOR c=0 to 7
FOR d=0 to 1
Fcandidate = 2.97MHz / ( 2a * 3b * 5c * 11d )
• Sort candidates by frequency - descending.
• Extract pixel rates from the top of the list and
desired frame rates from the bottom.

27. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 27
HVT Pixel Rate Set @ 2.97 GHz
24,750,000 27,000,000 27,500,000 29,700,000
30,000,000 30,937,500 33,000,000 33,750,000
37,125,000 39,600,000 41,250,000 45,000,000
46,406,250 49,500,000 54,000,000 55,000,000
59,400,000 61,875,000 66,000,000 67,500,000
74,250,000 82,500,000 90,000,000 92,812,500
99,000,000 110,000,000 118,800,000 123,750,000
135,000,000 148,500,000 165,000,000 185,625,000
198,000,000 247,500,000 270,000,000 29,7000,000
330,000,000 371,250,000 495,000,000 594,000,000
742,500,000 990,000,000 1,485,000,000 2,970,000,000

28. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 28
HVT Frame Rate Set
90 Hz Progressive Computer
75 Hz Progressive Computer
60 Hz Progressive TV (American, Japan, Korea, et al) & Computer
50 Hz Progressive or 100 Hz Interlaced-fields (European, et al.)
48 Hz Progressive Digital Cinema (Film Projection 2x)
30 Hz Progressive or 60 Hz Interlaced-fields TV (American, et al.)
25 Hz Progressive or 50 Hz Interlaced-fields TV
24 Hz Progressive or 48 Hz Segmented-fields Digital Cinema (Film)

29. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 29
HVT Aspect Ratio Set
Q = 1.000 Quadrate - MIL, Radiology (square, 512x512, 1024x1024)
G = 1.250 Graphics workstation (5x4, 1280x1024, 1600x1280)
T = 1.333… SDTV (4x3, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x960, 1600x1200)
C ≈ 1.37 Classic Film w/sound (≈4x3, 0.825x0.602 SMPTE RP40 35mm “C”)
I = 1.444… Maximum Image (13x9, IMAX™)
V = 1.500 Three Two (3x2, 1152x768 Apple Computer)
M ≈ 1.555… Mid (14x9, see ITU-R BT.1119)
D = 1.600 Desktop (16x10, 1728x1080, 1280x800)
E = 1.666… European Film (15x9 or 5x3, 1200x720, 1280x768, 1800x1080, a.k.a. “1.66”)
Z = 1.750 Legacy Film (7x4, Legacy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer & Disney Films)
H = 1.777… High-definition image (16x9, 1280x720,1920x1080)
A ≈ 1.85 North American Film (≈13x7,1920x1038, 0.825x0.446 SMPTE RP40 35mm “A”)
U = 2.000 Double Width (2x1, 1280x640, 1920x960, Univisum™)
F ≈ 2.20 “Flat Film”, MPEG “20x9” (≈11x5, 1920x874, 1.912x0.870 SMPTE RP91 70mm)
B ≈ 2.37 Anamorphic Film “2.35” (64:27, 2560x1080, 1.650x0.690 SMPTE RP40 35mm “B”)

30. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 30
HVT Horizontal Resolution Set
256 320 352 384 512 528 544
640 704 720 768 800 848 960
1024 1064 1152 1200 1224 1280 1360
1365 1400 1440 1536 1600 1680 1704
1728 1792 1800 1864 1920 2048 2128
2304 2456 2560 2728 3072 3200 3408
3840 4264 4608 5120

31. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 31
HVT Framework Set
(of all possible total frameworks)
FrameRate HTOT VTOT PixelRate
60 7920 3125 1485000000
60 8250 3000 1485000000
60 9000 2750 1485000000
75 400 825 24750000
75 440 750 24750000
75 440 900 29700000
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

32. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 32
HVT Framework Set Construction
FOR each FrameRate
FOR each PixelRate
FOR each possible HTOT (e.g. 256 to 10000)
FOR each possible VTOT (e.g. 256 to 10000)
IF
PixelRate == HTOT*VTOT*FrameRate
THEN
ADD Framework to Set

33. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 33
HVT Timing Set
(the best of all possible timings)
FrameRate Aspect HRES HTOT VTOT PixelRate
60 T 800 1056 625 39600000
60 T 1024 1375 800 66000000
60 T 1280 1650 1000 99000000
75 T 640 800 550 33000000
75 T 800 1000 660 49500000
75 T 1024 1500 880 99000000
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

34. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 34
HVT Timing Set Construction
Establish a best framework for every possible combination of
FrameRate-AspectRatioOrientation-HorizontalResolution.
FOR each FrameRate
FOR each AspectRatioOrientation
FOR each HorizontalResolution
FOR each Framework at FrameRate
try to fit the implied active into the Framework
grade relative to previous best
maybe store a new best

35. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 35
Applying the HVT Timing Set
• In the CE space, most of the timings in
EIA/CEA-861-B are already harmonically
related to 2.97GHz. VGA is an exception.
• In the IT space, CVT standard timings
include 2 blanking schemes, 39
resolutions, and 4 frame rates for a total of
312. Most of these timings are not
harmonically related to 2.97GHz, but can
be replaced by nearby HVT timings.

36. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 36
Results from applying HVT to 156
CVT standard CRT modes:
• Most CVT timings have a nearby HVT
equivalent, with blanking within 20% of
GTF.
• Four exceptions are 640x480x50,
1450x1050x90, 4608x2880x90,
5120x2880x90, which have no viable HVT
timing equivalents inside a +61%, -51%
window relative to GTF.

37. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 37
HVT equivalents for CVT-CRT Timings
-60%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
10E+6 100E+6 1E+9 10E+9
Pixel Rate (Hz)
Blankingre.GTF

38. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 38
Summary
• Research continues into the possibility of
integrating IT and CE standards.
• One possible solution is HVT.
• HVT can provide improved frame and
audio lock between IT, CE, and ProAV
systems.
• HVT can allow narrow-band oscillators to
be used, which reduce clock noise.

39. May 2, 2003 Quantum Data 39
Materials
Please visit www.quantumdata.com for a
copy of this presentation and
spreadsheets summarizing results from
our investigation. These materials will be
posted on our website Tuesday of next
week.